Patriarchy
Interview conducted on June 05, 2020
By Dan Locke
Actually – of Patriarchy
What is your upbringing?
I started low and worked my way up…to nothing. To know that I know nothing is the best, took me quite a few years to learn that.
How did you discover music?
With my ears
How did you start to write music?
With some notes
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
In 3rd grade I made a horribly sweet song called “The Moon is a Pearl” for chorus class.
You are also an actress and producer of the films Heavenly Sin, Viking Angel and Write a Book about it. How did you start creating films?
I was taking night courses at UCLA (for screenwriting and directing); I started an impossible script and decided to get all of my friends drunk so they would act for me. They acted horribly, but I barely knew how to do anything myself. So, we all learned about art and how much hell we could put into our systems. For “Write A Book About It,” I had a band, some songs, three mini DV cameras, and a cracked version of a final cut pro. My DIY or Die career as a film and video maker really got going after that crazy time. I also made some lifelong friends, who I consider my family.
How did you go from Actually Huizenga to Actually Patriarchy?
My name is Actually Huizenga. My current band is called “Patriarchy”
How the band did get its name?
I wanted to call the band “Rape,” but “Patriarchy” sounded more musical.
What was your first performance at like?
As Patriarchy? or as a human? As a human- I think we are performing every fucking moment of our lives in front of other horrible humans. My first “Patriarchy” show was one of my favorite performances ever. It is actually the only time my writing partner and producer Andrew Means ever performed live with me. He is always busy with his big Sony-signed band called 3Teeth. I am lucky I got to finish the album to be honest. You can actually watch part of it here: https://youtu.be/g-Pt9ccnUdA
You have been making videos for over 14 years. What video shows the real you the best?
None of them. I hate the real me. I don’t even know who she/he/it is. 14 years? Jesus. Fuck me.
Your album came out on May 26th. Why Vinyl?
Why not. It looks fucking cool even though I don’t have a record player. I like the idea of a physical thing also- plus mine is blood splattered!
Tell me about your latest video “Asking for it”?
Well, my latest video is actually “Burn the Witch.” But I make so many freaking videos, it is understandable that you wouldn’t know. Anyways, “Asking for It” i filmed in December and It is about a singer who chooses a groupie out of the audience to have sex with. She flirts with him, degrades him slightly and then suddenly he is a corpse (which appears to have started the decomposition process). We are not sure if she has killed him herself or if it was some other presence. This other “presence” might be someone stalking them or it might be her own alternate serial-killer personality. Or maybe she is a vampire. Either way, he was Asking for It.
What is your favorite track on the album?
I don’t respond to favoritism. My least favorites are the ones that didn’t make it onto the album.
What do you mean by DIY or DIE?
It means I will kill myself if I cannot make Art. MY ART (not anyone else’s). And, obviously, since I have been making art since I was a child, and no one has caught on…. it is Do-It-Yourself. I am lucky, this past year, that I finally got a label (Dero Arcade). I have been denied and shelved by many many labels (big and small). But I always just do what I do…. I put everything out myself. Some people call my art and the fact that I am not famous SAD, but I call it a Necessity. I call it LIFE. To be ALIVE.
What do you think of the term State of Emergency?
I think it sounds exciting and/or scary but can distract people from focusing on themselves and how they can handle stress on their own. But, in world-terms, I am glad the red lights are finally flashing with a little sound now. Looks like some humans are moving around and looking at themselves instead of just at others through a small screen.
How do you stay healthy while touring?
By doing drugs only every other night instead of every day. And if I get a groupie, I insist on using a condom.
How do you create a song?
I feel things and enjoy the beauty of pain. I also take notes constantly (in my phone or in tiny books scattered all over wherever I am trying to survive).
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
It’s great.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Both.
Any plans to tour?
I WISH
What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?
Surprisingly amazing. I actually am feeling compassion for humans. I have found myself crying every day this week. It is a beautiful thing. For the first time, I see Love outriding Hate. I hope it lasts!
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song means to you?
I’ve been hearing a lot of ancient Greek chants. I think it means that Dionysus is coming back to turn blood into wine.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
They are going to have to make a shit load of money back. Not my problem though- the music “business” has never taken me under its maggoty wing, and probably never will. Fly away…
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Writing, reading, watching films, Crying and Masturbating mostly.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Crying and masturbating
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You are doing “Coronal Live” along with videos.
Ya I tried that out back in March. Was fun. If I can tear myself away from crying and masturbating, I will do another Insta- live thing. Maybe collaborate with one of those twitches’ things, I guess.
Tell me about this and how you got the idea.
This? Life is so short, really whatever I am doing is an idea to feel alive- to embrace death, to maybe hope to one day get laid again…
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
I have never made any money with my art. When I do “concerts” the money goes to the band mates performing with me. I am so underground, that I think I have begun to rot…I am beneath grandpa. I am a broke ass artist. Making Money?! WOW. That would be amazing! I fucked up and didn’t even get my severance check. But luckily, I am living with my parents. The Dream is Real!
First it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stones talked about it and finally Live Nation CEO said that concerts may not start again until fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
That sucks.
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it maybe the end of music fest for the next couple of years?
I wasn’t planning on going to any “music fests” for the next couple years anyhow. I went to one that had Iggy Pop and NIN performing (after David Bowie’s death)- that was my favorite festival of late (last “fest” i actually went to). But the guys who ran it got in trouble for the usual rape thing. So, really, if people are going to pay for rape, no music business thing should be happening anyways. I love bands, I hate business.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
SO DOWN WITH THAT. Can we make it NC-17? Since it is private?
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Aside from the usual rot/ decomposition of my bodily glory, I believe that I will finally be Telling people what to do.
Anything you would like to say in closing?
I would like to say that if you actually read all of this- then you must already be a fan of whatever you think I am or want me to be. And I say Thank you. Stay safe, treat other people with respect, etc etc. 2020- I don’t think it is a bad year, I see it as a pivotal year. This “shit” that is happening to us- might be the very thing the social media slaves needed …to realize they are animals with bodies that heat up and bleed.
